Pocket FM has announced the elevation of Lalit Gangwar as chief operating officer. 

Gangwar, in this new role, will lead all global business operations for Pocket FM’s audio business, with end-to-end responsibility across markets, growth, monetisation, and execution as the company continues to scale internationally.

This comes at a pivotal moment for Pocket FM as it strengthens its operating foundation to support long-term, predictable growth at a global scale.

A founding team member, Gangwar has played a defining role in building Pocket FM’s business across markets. He built the early growth and marketing playbook for India, helping scale the platform to over 150 million users within the first year and establishing category leadership.

He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the US, building the business from the ground up. This included setting up teams, defining the growth playbook, and driving scale. Under his leadership, the US business reached significant scale, reinforcing the company’s ability to build large, sustainable businesses globally.

As COO, he will focus on scaling global markets, driving operating discipline, and building the systems, talent, and processes required for the next phase of growth.

Gangwar was previously senior vice president - head of US and LATAM.

Rohan Nayak, co-founder and CEO, Pocket FM, said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets. At Pocket FM, we strongly believe in growing leaders from within, and Lalit’s journey is a reflection of that. His ability to combine sharp execution with long-term thinking makes him the right leader to run our global audio business as we enter the next phase of growth." 

Gangwar added, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact. Having been part of this journey from the beginning, I am excited to take on this role and continue building a global business that empowers creators and delivers immersive storytelling experiences to audiences worldwide. Our focus will remain on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling, and strengthening monetisation."